Matt Vetrone's hat trick leads Shaker/Colonie to title

The Shaker/Colonie hockey team claimed its second Section II, Division I title with an 8-1 victory over Niskayuna/Schenectady in last Thursday's championship game at Union College.

Matt Vetrone scored three goals and added two assists to help the Jets (19-4-1) claim their first Sectional crown since 2002 and advance to this weekend's regional final.

Vetrone got things going with a goal midway through the first period. Ian Mahota scored less than three minutes later, and Corey Brustle added a goal with 1:03 left in the opening period to put the Jets ahead 3-0.

Vetrone struck again 1:15 into the second period to give Shaker/Colonie a 4-0 lead. Niskayuna/Schenectady (9-16-2) tried to start a rally when Ryan Grant tallied, but the Jets scored two more times in the second period to seal the Mohawks' fate.

Ryan Phillips contributed a pair of goals and two assists, and Brustle added two assists to his goal for Shaker/Colonie. Goalie Jim Lanne made 10 saves.

Shaker/Colonie hosts Section III champion West Genesee in Saturday's regional final at the Albany County Hockey Facility."